Buddha Purnima
Also called Vesak, Buddha Jayanti, Vaishakha Purnima
When
Thursday, 20 May 2027 in 252 days
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See the complete panchang for that day โ
Why this date?
Vaishakha Purnima.
- Computed by the panchanga engine for your location
- Follows a written selection rule, not a copied list
- Governed by the whole day rather than a specific period
- The written guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar
Dates come from the calculation engine and are independent of the written guide. How we calculate โ
Dates in the coming years
- Thursday, 20 May 2027 in 252 days
- Monday, 8 May 2028 in 606 days
- Sunday, 27 May 2029 in 990 days
- Friday, 17 May 2030 in 1345 days
Published to 2030. Later years appear as the dataset is extended and validated.
What In short
The Buddha's birth, enlightenment and parinirvana, held to have fallen on the same full moon. Kept at Bodh Gaya, Sarnath and Sanchi, and by Buddhists across Asia as Vesak.
- Deity: the Buddha
Why The reason behind it
One full moon carrying all three events is the tradition's own claim and is the reason the day is singular rather than one of three anniversaries. In the Hindu reckoning the Buddha is also counted among Vishnu's avataras, which is why the day appears on this calendar as well as on Buddhist ones.
Traditional basis
Pali canon, Mahaparinibbana Sutta โ The tradition placing birth, awakening and parinirvana on the Vaishakha full moon.
Puranic avatara lists โ The Buddha's inclusion among the ten avataras, from which the Hindu observance follows.
How At home, step by step
- Visit a vihara or stupa where one is near.
- Offer flowers, lamps and incense; the Bodhi tree is honoured where present.
- Dana โ giving โ is the day's characteristic act.
Fasting and breaking the fast
Many Buddhists keep the eight precepts for the day; it is not a Hindu fasting day.
Fasting guidance here describes traditional practice. It is not medical advice โ if you are pregnant, diabetic, on medication or unwell, ask a doctor about your own circumstances.
Personal In your region
- North India yours
Bodh Gaya and Sarnath hold the principal observances. - Bengal (Bengali)
Kept in the Buddhist communities and at the state level. - Nepal (Nepali)
Lumbini's observance draws internationally.
For children
The full moon when the Buddha was born, understood what he was looking for, and died โ all three on the same day of the year, the tradition says.
Common questions
- Why is a Buddhist festival on a Hindu calendar?
- Two reasons, and both are real: the Buddha is counted among Vishnu's avataras in the Hindu tradition, and this site publishes the observances a household in this region will see on its calendar, identifying whose each is.
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar or practising priest. The dates and times on this page come from the calculation engine and are independent of it; the explanatory text is editorial and may not reflect your family's practice. Tell us if something is wrong.